Government Communications Body Denies Orchestrating Pro-MBG Demonstrations
The Government Communications Body has denied any government effort to steer demonstrations supporting the free nutritious meals programme (MBG). The counter-rallies emerged amid widespread student protests in various regions demanding the programme be halted.
“Regarding the allegation that the government conditioned the pro-MBG demonstrations, I think that is not true,” said Kurnia Ramadhana, Acting Deputy III for Partnership and Media Relations at the Government Communications Body, at his office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Kurnia explained that under Indonesian law, anyone is permitted to express their opinion. The public has the right to voice views, whether supporting or criticising government policies. “The government respects both sides,” Kurnia stated.
The former Indonesia Corruption Watch researcher said the government is currently striving to improve the governance of the MBG programme. “Essentially, what the government is doing now is trying to reform itself regarding the free nutritious meals programme, while improvements are being made by the new leadership of the National Nutrition Agency,” Kurnia said.
A demonstration supporting the MBG programme took place in Jakarta on Monday, 22 June 2026. The crowd marched from Gambir to the Arjuna Wijaya Statue in Central Jakarta, unfurling banners expressing support for MBG. They also carried Indonesian flags and posters rejecting the programme’s termination.
Several demonstrators admitted receiving between Rp50,000 and Rp100,000 per person to participate in the rally. When asked about the payments to protesters, Kurnia declined to answer. “That’s all for now,” he said.
Kurnia also refused to comment on the case of Muhammad Abdimaludin, Chairman of the Student Executive Body at Bung Karno University’s Faculty of Law, who allegedly received money to orchestrate the “Tata Ulang Indonesia” demonstration on Monday, 15 June 2026. Abdimaludin admitted receiving Rp20 million from a police officer to change the protest’s location. “I answered the question about the MBG demonstration, the one allegedly steered by the government and so forth. That’s all I’ll address,” Kurnia said.